The "Chick" Is In the Mail.

[WhatAboutBob?]

So, I am beginning the third iteration of my flock today. I ordered a selection of a dozen chicks and they are due to arrive later today (anyone else obsessively stare at USPS tracking data?). I just thought I'd post my brooder setup just for fun and discussion while I await the call from our local PO regarding the arrival for pickup. I am using the mama heating pad brooder setup I used for the second iteration, which was 3 or 4 years ago...

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Just to add, I am pretty utilitarian in practice, so its another reuse of a stock tank. Reuse of my Sunbeam Heating Pad, Reuse of the Hardware Cloth Frame. The wooden block is for the waterer, to keep a level foundation for the waterer.

 

[aimee750]

It's so fun getting new chicks, good luck with yours.
I obsessively refresh the tracking info, it is so hard when it appears they are just sitting somewhere!

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Enjoy! I always obsessively check the USPS data when they get shipped as well. It's great cause then I know I can pick them up the moment it says delivered to my post office (they don't call/text me and if they do it is way later).

 

[townchicks]

Good luck with the new kids! Good for you to reuse/ repurpose stuff.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

It’s been over a month now, and my 12 became 7. 5 didn’t survive the stress and rigors of the shipping process and passed within 72 hours of arrival. That was disheartening but the rest are thriving nicely. At 2.5 weeks I graduated them to a large dog crate covered in hardware cloth which worked nicely. They are now almost 5 weeks in that and today began the acclimation process- we moved the crate to the coop.

Here is a pic from transfer out of the stock tank.

These are today’s pics after the move to the coop. Let the next stage begin.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Well things move fast around here. The youngsters were looking a bit cramped, so I spent the weekend building the grow-out enclosure for the rest of the acclimation process.Here is the stages of the build. First the framework. I built it in panels for convenience- easy breakdown when the acclimation is completed. I attached hardware cloth to the panels, and the transported(carried) the completed panels to the coop for assembly. 4 screws on each end and it’s all set. Then latches on the suicide doors, and in go the chicks. I put in some roosts and pine shavings and we’re almost finished. Last on the list was the top for security.